My topic was the continuation of the previous topic by one of our classmates where the

last trip abroad of Dr. Jose Rizal.

Rizal had a pleasant trip from Dapitan to Manila, with delightful stopovers in
Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, and Romblon for his no longer exile. He missed the regular
streamer Isla de Luzon that going to Spain on the day of his arrival in Manila Bay. So he was
kept as a guest on board the Spanish cruiser Castilla while waiting for the next ship to Spain. 26 th
day of August 1896 when Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised the cry of revolution in the
hills of Balintawak a few miles north of Manila. He was worried about the raging hostilities and
left for Spain on the streamer Isla de Panay on the 3rd day of September 1896 and it was his last
trip abroad.
31th day of July 1896 at midnight Espana left Dapitan and sailed northward. 1 st day of
August when it anchored at Dumaguete, the Capital of Negros Oriental where Rizal wrote in his
diary “Dumaguete”. He visit a former classmate and a friend of his Herrero Regidor who was the
judge of the province. He also visited other friends, including the Periquet and Rufina families
and in afternoon he operated on a Spanish captain of the Guardia Civil.
10:00 p.m when the Espana left Dumaguete and reach Cebu the following day where
Rizal amazed by the entrance of Cebu which he considered beautiful. At the house of Attorney
Mateos he met an old couple whom he had known in Madrid. And he wrote again to his diary “In
Cebu”, Rizal left Cebu going to Iloilo on Monday, August 3 and again he wrote “The Voyage
was fine” and the next morning they entered Iloilo. As Rizal landed in Iloilo he went shopping
and visited Molo of the Molo Church, from Iloilo Rizal’s ship arrived at Manila via Romblon.
As the Espana arrived early in the morning of Thursday, 6 th day of August 1896,
unfortunately he did not catch the mail ship Isla de Luzon for Spain for it had departed the
previous day at 5:00 p.m. he was greatly disappointed but he take it as unlucky incidence with
abiding resignation. He wrote a letter to Blumentritt where he mention what happened that day.
Near midnight on the same day, Rizal was transferred to the Spanish cruiser Castillas through the
order of Governor General Ramon Blanco where he was given good accommodation by the
gallant captain, Enrique Santalo who told him that he was not a prisoner but a guest detained on
board to avoid difficulties from friend to enemy. He stayed to the cruiser for about a month from
August 6 to September 2, 1896, pending the availability of a Spain-bound streamer.
While Rizal Patiently waiting for the cruiser Castilla for the next steamer to take him to
Spain, portentous even occurred, presaging the downfall of Spanish power in Asia. August 19,
1896 on fateful evening, the Katipunan plot to throw Spanish rule by means of revolution which
give terror to the heart of the Spanish officials and residents, producing a hysteria of vindictive
retaliation against the Filipino patriots that was discovered by Fray Mariano Gil, Augustinian
cura of Tondo.
On August 26, 1896 the “Cry of Balintawak” which raised by Bonifacio and his valiant
Katipuneros. At sunrise of August 30, the revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto attacked
San Juan, near the city of Manila, but they were repulsed with heavy losses. In the afternoon,
after the Battle of San Juan, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first 8
provinces rising in arms against Spain-Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga,
Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac. Rizal learned about the eruption of the revolution through newspaper
on the Castillas. He was worried for two reason. 1) The violent revolution which he sincerely
believed to be premature and would only cause much suffering and terrible loss of human lives
and property, had started and 2) it would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino patriots.
30th day of August 1896 when Rizal received a two letters from the Minister of War and
Minister of Colonies the day when the state of war was proclaimed in the eight provinces.
2nd day of September 1896 sends a letter to his mother before his departure to Spain
where he assures his mother about how healthy he is and not to worry about anything. At 6:00
p.m when he was transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which was sailing to Barcelona, Spain.
3rd day of September when the streamer left Manila and Rizal’s last trip to Spain began. Among
his fellow passengers on board were Don Pedro Roxas (rich Manila creole industrialist and his
friend) and his son named Periquin.
7th day of September in the evening when the Isla de Panay arrived at Singapore. The
following morning Rizal along with the other passenger went ashore for sightseeing and
shopping for souvenirs. And wrote again to his diary about his observation. Don Pedro with his
son disembarked at Singapore. He advise Rizal to stay behind too and take advantage of the
protection of the law of British but Rizal did not listen to his advice. Several Filipino residents of
Singapore, headed by Don Manuel Camus boarded the steamer, urging him to stay in Singapore
to save his life but he ignore their appeal for he had given his word to Governor General Blanco
and he didn’t want to break it. And that is one of his greatest mistake for he didn’t know that
friend of him who he thought a man of honor for he allowed him to go as a free man to Spain to
become Physician-surgeon of the Spanish army in Cuba, little did Rizal know the person he has
given his word was secretly conspiring with the Ministers of War and the Colonies and regarded
him as a “Dangerous Filipino” who was responsible for the raging Philippine Revolution. And
Rizal wasn’t aware of what is happening around him.
The Isla de Panay, with Rizal on board left Singapore at 1:00 p.m September 8 an
unaware of the plot that happening behind his back. 25th of September when he saw the streamer
Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops. 2 days later on Sunday, he
heard from his co-passenger that a telegram arrived at Manila reporting the execution of
Francisco Roxas, Genato, and Osorio,
September 28, a day after the steamer had left Port Said (Mediterranean terminus of the
Suez Canal), a passenger told Rizal regarding his Order of Arrest given by Governor Blanco and
would sent to prison in Cueta (Spanish Morocco), opposite Gibraltar. And shocked by alarming
news and realize that he was duped by the unscrupulous Spanish officials particularly the sly
Governor General Blanco. He immediately wrote a letter to his best friend Blumentritt with an
agonizing heart, unburdening his disgust and bitterness.
When Rizal arrived as a prisoner in Barcelona. At about 6:25 p.m., September 30 when
he wrote to his diary regarding how he saw the Famous island fortress of the Christian crusaders
through a tiny window. On October 3 at 10:00 in the morning when he arrived at their
destination in Isla de Panay. Their trip from Manila to Barcelona took 30 days, on the first 3
days he was being guarded by the ship captain Military Commander of Barcelona who happened
to be General Eulogio Despujol who happened to be the one that order Rizal Banishment to
Dapitan on July 1892. On his second day in Barcelona, Rizal being held in his cabin noticed the
city celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi as he recorded his diary regarding what is
happening outside his cabin. October 6 at 3:00 am when Rizal awaken by the guards and
escorted to the grim and infamous prison fortress named Monjuich. At about 2:00 in the
afternoon when he was brought to the headquarters of General Despojul and he was interviewed
which lasted a quarter of an hour. And 8:00 pm when he was sent back to Manila by a ship called
Colon.